SILK WORMS. 1 19 



on in an uniform manner. Thus a want of leaves may be 

 supplied. The leaves of the plant called ou-kiu, (cico- 

 rium intubus ?) can also be used as a substitute for that 

 flour. 



NONG-SSE-PI-YONG. 



Same Subject. 



Early in the morning, the roots of the mulberry trees 

 must be watered, and the leaves gathered soon after. If 

 they are watered early in the morning, the leaves will be 

 very juicy ; if they are gathered soon after having been 

 watered, they will not wither. 



They must be cut in fine shreds with a well sharpened 

 knife, and spread in light layers, with a coarse sieve. If a 

 very sharp knife be not used, the leaves will loose their 

 juice ; if they be not cut very thin, they will cover and 

 overload the silk worms. If a sieve be not made use of, 

 they will not be distributed in an equal manner ; if the cut 

 leaves be not distributed in an equal manner, the silk worms 

 will not all eat an equal quantity. 



The juice of the leaves is not very abundant ; at the ex- 

 piration of some time, it dries up; for that reason the leaves 

 immediately after the watering require to be sifted on the 

 silk worms. 



The first day, two repasts an hour must be given them, 

 that is to say, about forty-eight repasts in the space of a 

 day and night. 



The second day, thirty repasts must be given them, in 

 the same interval of time, and the leaves which are distri- 

 buted to them, must be cut a little smaller. 



